Recipe:
Hook: Daiichi 2220 Streamer Hook (4X long) size 6
Thread: UTC 70 Denier Black
Tail: Finn Raccoon Tan
Tail Flash: Cooper Krystal Flash
Legs: Barred Crazy Legs Orange/Gold Flake
Eyes: “Mono” Eyes (purchase or make with hard mono & 6/0 glass czech bead)
Body Hackle: Orange Grizzly
Dubbing: Cohen’s Carp Dub-Rusty Nail
Wing: Finn Raccoon Tan
Head: Sculpin Helmet Mini- Brown
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- Securely mount hook in vise. Begin thread 3/4 of the way work to the bend and back forward. Cut hunk of finn raccoon off the hide and remove long guard hairs and under fur. Tie in from 50% point of the hook shaft down to just above the bend. I prefer the tail to be under an inch but you can adjust as necessary for your needs.
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- Add krystal flash. I like the Krystal flash about as long as the tail. Generally I use 2 pieces tied in and doubled over for strength.
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- Add in legs of your choice similar to the way you did the krystal flash. You want them about as long as the tail. Tie them in and double them over for strength.
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- Use pre-made or make your own “mono” eyes. I like the EP crustacean eyes but I ran out so I used homemade. This is a piece of hard mono with 6/0 czech glass beads placed on them with Deer Creek Diamond Hard resin.
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- Tie eyes in about 1/4″ off the back of the fly. I use a pair of flat jawed pliers to flatten the mono creating less bulk for the fly.
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- Select a piece of grizzly schlappen or webby hackle. I prefer grizzly because of its “molted” look. Tie it in just in front of the eyes, tip first.
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- Create a dubbing loop about 6" in length. Insert Cohen’s carp dub into the loop, spin well, then brush out.
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- Palmer dubbing loop with Carp dub forward to your initial tie in point. Once again brush out.
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- Palmer hackle forward. I make quite a bit of wraps of the hackle and even go into the marabou like stuff near the bottom of the feather.
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- Rotate hook in vise. Cut piece of finn raccoon off the hide, remove most long guard hairs, and underfur. Tie in, clean up thread head, whip finish, and cut thread. Touch a fairly large amount of gel superglue, slide sculpin helmet on, and put into place. Make sure the “keel” of the helmet is on the bottom so the hook point rides up. At this point remove it from the vise and trim the bottom of the fly down with a pair of scissors if you would like. It helps sometimes with the speed at which it sinks.
